In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best bass guitar pickups and the famous brands that produce them. Choosing the right pickup for your bass can profoundly change the sound and tone of your instrument. This is why you’ll need to learn a little more about these sonic devices and how they work.
I’m a professional bass player with numerous live shows and albums under my belt. I really enjoy the bass guitar, as it offers a unique experience full of pleasantly smooth and deep tones.
Quick Look: Best Bass Guitar Pickups
★ #1 Best Bass Guitar Pickup Overall: Fender Custom Shop ’60s Jazz ★
- Best Cheap Bass Guitar Pickup: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound
- Best Bass Guitar Pickup Under $500: Aguilar AG 4P/J-HC
- Best Bass Guitar Pickup Under $100: Seymour Duncan SSPB-4
Join me as we explore some of the best pickups and their unique features and characteristics.
What Is a Bass Guitar Pickup?
The pickup is a device that captures the disturbances in the magnetic field made by the strings and translates them into sound input. Most bass guitar pickups are responsible for 50% of the sound quality produced by your electric bass guitar, and this part is essential for the signal volume and clarity.
The most common type of pickups used for bass guitar is a magnetic type, as it offers better definitions of low vibrations produced by the thick strings of the bass.
Types of Bass Guitar Pickups
Now let’s take a look at each type of pickup that you can find on most bass guitars. Here we’ll mostly look at magnetic pickups, as they’re the most common type found on this instrument.
P-pickups
P-pickups are named after the Precision Bass and the pickups it has. This configuration comes in the form of two single-coil pickups connected together, forming a double coil, which is a humbucker in a way. This is a classic type of bass pickup that produces a deep and punchy sound.
J-pickups
J-pickups, named after the famous Jazz Bass, is a more versatile configuration, as it offers split controls for each pickup and a mix between them. Sometimes the J-pickup could be referred to as a single-coil bass guitar pickup.
Humbuckers
Humbuckers have a double-coil design that provides a great deal of low and mid-range tones. This type is commonly used in many bass guitars, as it gives a fat and deep sound to any bass guitar.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Bass Guitar Pickup
There are few things to consider when choosing the perfect bass guitar pickup for you. This includes size, the level of protection, and the overall price of each pickup.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these characteristics.
Size
Most pickups have a similar standardized size, as they need to fit the limited space near the bridge of your bass. Be careful to check the correct dimensions, so you don’t end up with pickups you can’t use.
Protection
The protection of your pickup is important for the sound of your bass. But I wouldn’t worry much about it, as most pickups nowadays are very sturdy.
Price
The price is another important factor to consider, as some models are way too expensive for most musicians. Choose wisely, as each price offers different levels of quality and tone type.
10 Best Bass Guitar Pickups
Let’s dive deeper into each model and the brands behind them. Most pickups presented here are from the most famous and renowned brands. This includes high-tier brands like Seymour Duncan, Fender, DiMarzio, and EMG.
1. Seymour Duncan SPB-1 Vintage Precision Bass Pickup Set
- Size: 7.09 x 3.54 x 1.57 inches
- Weight: 6.6 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
The Seymour Duncan SPB-1 Vintage Precision Bass Pickup Set is a great pickup set with a classic P-bass tonality. This pickup will provide a deep and punchy sound for a really good price.
✅ Affordable
✅ Warm and punchy tone
✅ Easy to install
❌ Inconsistent quality
Why I Recommend It
Seymour Duncan is quite famous for delivering a great quality-price ratio. This pickup set is no different, which makes it a great option for beginners and intermediate players.
2. EMG J Active Bass Guitar Pickup Set, Black
- Size: 2.63 x 2.38 x 6 inches
- Weight: 10.6 ounces
- Type: Active
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
EMG J Active Bass Guitar Pickup Set, black is one of the best pickup sets on this list. This active pickup requires batteries to work, but it’ll give you a noticeable boost in sound quality.
✅ Versatile J-Bass tone
✅ Great dynamic range
✅ Easy to install
❌ Requires batteries
Why I Recommend It
You won’t find any better pickup than this one. EMG is commonly known for creating high-quality electronics for musical instruments, and this pickup is a great example of that.
3. Fender Custom Shop ’62 P Bass Pickups
- Size: 11.42 x 7.48 x 3.54 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
Fender Custom Shop ’62 P Bass Pickups is a perfect set of pickups for any vintage or old-school style bass guitars. If you’re looking for that classic P-Bass sound, look no further, as these high-grade pickups from the Fender company will deliver that iconic tone to your instrument.
✅ High-grade Alnico magnets
✅ Deep and punchy tone
✅ Vintage sound
✅ Mounting hardware included
❌ Require professional setup
Why I Recommend It
What’s better than an old, well-proven, classic sound? Well, Fender’s got you covered, as this set is a solid choice for any model of Precision bass guitars.
4. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup
- Size: 7.09 x 3.54 x 1.57 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup is another budget-friendly set of pickups presented by Seymour Duncan. This set is very easy to use and has that classic deep P-bass tone. This and its overall decent quality makes this set a great choice for beginners and intermediate players.
✅ Easy to install
✅ Deep and punchy tone
✅ Affordable
❌ Not suited for every musical style
Why I Recommend It
This set is very popular nowadays, as it offers a great sound for a reasonable price tag.
5. EMG Geezer Butler Signature P Bass Guitar Pickup Set
- Size: 8 x 5 x 2 inches
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
EMG Geezer Butler Signature P Bass Guitar Pickup Set is a signature set made following the indications given by Geezer Butler, a famous bassist who played in Black Sabbath. This pickup emulates the sound of the band’s early albums and gives a dark and deep tone to your bass guitar.
✅ Easy to install
✅ High-tier Alnico V magnets
✅ Deep and punchy tone
❌ Sound not suited for every style
Why I Recommend It
This unique signature model made by EMG is a high-grade pickup set that brings that heavy metal Black Sabbath sound for a decent price.
6. Seymour Duncan SSPB-4 SPB-4 Steve Harris Signature P-Bass – Bass Pickup
- Size: 7.09 x 3.54 x 1.57 inches
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Intermediate and professionals
Seymour Duncan SSPB-4 SPB-4 Steve Harris Signature P-Bass – Bass Pickup is one of the most popular pickups currently on the market. This signature set is designed to satisfy the needs of the famous bass player Steve Harris from Iron Maiden. Overall, this is a really professional set for a very low price.
✅ High-quality construction
✅ Powerful Alnico magnets
✅ Balanced tone
✅ Versatile
❌ Limited gain
Why I Recommend It
This set of pickups is highly recommended for any professional musician, as it offers great definition and a balanced tone. It can be used for many different musical styles, not only heavy metal.
7. Fender Custom Shop ’60s Jazz Bass Pickups
- Size: 11.42 x 7.48 x 3.54 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Professionals
Fender Custom Shop ’60s Jazz Bass Pickups is a high-tier set with a punchy vintage tonality. This set is very versatile, as it brings great definition on mid and high-end tones.
✅ Professional quality
✅ Balanced tone
✅ High-grade Alnico magnets
✅ Includes mounting hardware
❌ Somehow difficult to install
Why I Recommend It
I used this set many times and it’s one of the few sets that deliver that classic Fender J-bass tone. Highly recommended.
8. Aguilar AG 4P/J-HC Bass Guitar Pickup
- Size: 5.4 x 2.3 x 2.8 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Professionals
Aguilar AG 4P/J-HC Bass Guitar Pickup is a set that is becoming quite popular recently. This set offers a deep punchy tone with great definition on mid and high-end frequencies.
✅ Balanced tone
✅ High-grade Alnico V magnets
✅ Professional build
❌ Expensive
Why I Recommend It
Although a little expensive, this set offers an extremely high level of quality. If you’re looking for a unique sounding and high-grade set of pickups, this one is perfect for you.
9. DiMarzio DP126 P+J Neck and Bridge Bass Pickup Set Black
- Size: 4.2 x 2.3 x 2.2 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Intermediate players and professionals
DiMarzio DP126 P+J Neck and Bridge Bass Pickup Set Black is a top-notch set of pickups that earned many fans over the years. This set will drastically change the sound of your bass guitar by adding more definition to undertones and harmonics.
✅ High-quality build
✅ Durable construction
✅ Deep and punchy tone
❌ Expensive
Why I Recommend It
This set is commonly praised by intermediate and professional players alike. You’ll need to hear the powerful sound of this set to understand why.
10. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz Bass Set Electric Guitar Electronics
- Size: 6.25 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches
- Weight: 10.2 ounces
- Type: Passive
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz Bass Set Electric Guitar Electronics is a high-tier set of pickups with a punchy classic rock sound. This set is a perfect match for classic-era Jazz Bass guitars, as it will maintain the natural vintage tone of this instrument.
✅ Great attack and dynamics
✅ Hand-built in LA
✅ High-grade Alnico V magnets
❌ Expensive
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for a professional Zeppelin-like sound, this set of pickups will fit right in. I used these pickups for many years, and they’re one of the best-sounding and versatile sets I’ve ever used.
Best Bass Guitar Pickup Brands
There are numerous brands of pickups to choose from, but which ones are really good?
Here I’ll answer this question, as we go through some of the best bass guitar pickup brands and their history.
Seymour Duncan
Founded in 1976 in Santa Barbara, California, Seymour Duncan rapidly grew into one of the biggest companies that produce pickups for electric guitars and bass guitars. This family-owned company brought numerous best-selling pickups to the market, earning the well-deserved respect of the music community.
Fender
Fender is one of the most recognizable musical brands in the world. This company is a father to the first electric guitar and the first electric bass. With numerous innovations under their belt, Fender continues the tradition of creating some of the most reliable and good-sounding musical equipment.
See More: Best Fender Bass Guitars Buyer’s Guide
DiMarzio
DiMarzio is an American company founded in 1971. A year later they introduced their first pickup model called Super Distortion, which earned them mainstream popularity.
The pickups of this brand are used by many famous artists like Tom Delonge, The Edge, Kurt Cobain, David Gilmore, and Ace Frehley among many others.
EMG
Created in 1976 by Rob Turner in California, the EMG brand is characterized by its trebly and bright sound. This brand creates some of the best quality-price ratio pickups, which successfully fills the niche for mid and low-end pickups.
How Much Do Bass Guitar Pickups Cost?
Most sets of pickups are quite cheap, although you can certainly find some models or brands that are more expensive but offer higher levels of quality. Low-end pickups can cost from $70 to $100. Mid-range pickups will cost you around $100, and the most professional and expensive ones will cost around $150 to $200 or even higher.
Choosing the right one for you might be tricky, but fear not, as there are plenty of options with a huge variety of price ranges.
What Are the Best Bass Guitar Pickups?
Let’s review some of the best bass guitar pickups we explored in this guide.
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup: Best for Beginners
The Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound set of pickups is a great option for any beginner, as it offers decent sound quality for a modest price tag. And let’s not forget the big name behind this set, as Seymour Duncan is considered one of the best when it comes to pickups.
Fender Custom Shop ’62 P Bass Pickups: Best for Intermediate
Fender is a world leader when it comes to musical hardware and electronics. The Fender Custom Shop ’62 P is well regarded and popularly used by many musicians, as it delivers that signature Fender quality for a reasonable price.
Aguilar AG 4P/J-HC Bass Guitar Pickup: Best for Professionals
Aguilar is a young brand that already earned its place as a master in electronics and musical hardware. The Aguilar AG 4P/J-HC model is an amazingly good-sounding set of pickups that won’t disappoint any musicians, no matter how professional.
Where Are the Best Bass Guitar Pickups Made?
Most pickups are made in the United States, a country that pioneered this type of musical hardware. But there are some other brands from countries like Japan or some European countries that produce decent pickups for the bass guitar.
Where to Buy Bass Guitar Pickups
Nowadays you have a huge number of options, from music stores to online retailers. Each one comes with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of them and what they have to offer.
Amazon
Amazon had become a titan of online retail, as their competitive prices and fast delivery made them very popular all around the globe. On Amazon, you’ll find a huge selection of products with detailed descriptions and useful customer reviews.
Online Music Retailers
There are several other online retailers that offer a big selection of equipment with great prices. Some of them have their own exclusive agreements with important brands, which is an important factor to consider if you’re looking for a particular model.
Here at Into Strings we highly recommend Sweetwater.com, Fiddlershop.com, and GuitarCenter.com, as they offer a huge selection of products for very low prices.
Your Local Music Store
In your local music store, you’ll probably find a limited selection of amplifiers and pickups, as most small shops can’t compete with a huge volume of products offered by online retailers. But you can count on the useful advice from the salesperson, who is often a fellow musician.
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Table of Contents
- Bass Guitar Accessories
- What Is a Bass Guitar Pickup?
- Types of Bass Guitar Pickups
- Things to Consider When Choosing a Bass Guitar Pickup
- 10 Best Bass Guitar Pickups
- Best Bass Guitar Pickup Brands
- How Much Do Bass Guitar Pickups Cost?
- What Are the Best Bass Guitar Pickups?
- Where Are the Best Bass Guitar Pickups Made?
- Where to Buy Bass Guitar Pickups
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
I really hope you enjoyed this guide about the best bass guitar pickups. Here we explored some of the most interesting and good-sounding pickups that are currently available on the market. There are plenty of different pickups to choose from, and I hope some of the information presented here has helped dissipate some of the doubts you may have.
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Stay safe, have fun, and good luck with your sonic adventures!